Wednesday, November 7, 2018

The Hills are Alive... with Tyrolean Rebels!

A number of years ago, I purchased the introductory deal for Eureka's 28 mm Tyrolean Militia (Landsturm). They were intended to be the core of a force to be used to do a scenario based upon the 2nd Battle of Berg Isel. With the Spanish Napoleonic project completed for Historicon 2018, a return to the year 1809 in central Europe seemed in order for Historicon 2019. That plan was reinforced by a small "grant"  from Jon over at The Palouse Wargaming Journal, in the form of his 6th Anniversary drawing.

I ultimately wound up buying the remainder of my planned forces in  one order from the very helpful Rob at Eureka Miniatures, USA. The planned forces number 15 units of infantry - 6 units of infantry armed with various pole weapons, each of four stands of three figures, and 9 units of infantry armed with hunting rifles, each of four stands of 2 figures. I decided that they would be divided into three groups of 5 units, based upon the color of their jackets, one in shades green, one in shades of brown, and one in shades of grey. Seen above are three units from the "Green group" in progress - a unit of  riflemen in medium green jackets, a unit of polearms in dark green jackets, and another rifle unit is olive drab jackets. Unfortunately, these pictures seem shifted to the blue spectrum, but as they are all WIP, I'm not going to stress about it. 


Polearms in olive drab coats, and rifles in Dark green. Within a unit, the hats and pants are done in at least three different shades of green, brown, or grey, the color being the same for each. For example,  in the picture above, the polearms men all have hats in shades of brown, and pants in shades of grey. 



Here are three units of the "Browncoat" group. The colors and painting, by the way is inspired by the Tirol Panorama at Innsbruck, as well documented in picture's on Jon's blog earlier this year. 


The rest of the Browncoat group - one Lansdsturm in dark brown coats, and some riflemen in medium brown.


A view of the same group from a different angle.


The first of the Grey coat group - riflemen in medium grey, Landsturm in dark grey, and rifles in light grey. Working on these guys as a group of about 150 figures has kept the posts down in recent weeks!


Landsturm in light grey coats and riflemen in dark grey coats. Obviously, there is a lot of painting yet to be done on all of these figures!


Command figures to the left - "The red-bearded Capuchin" priest, Joachim Haspinger, Josef Speckbacher (rear, in cape), Andreas Hofer, and a standard bearer.  A mountain howitzer and crew are to the right.


Here are some paintings, in addition to the Tiroler Panamorma,  showing the Tyrolean Rebels (all in the public realm):

Tyroleans overcome the Bavarians at the Battle of Sterzi.


Andreas Hofer and the Tyroleans immediately before the 2nd battle of Berg Isel.


Homecoming of the Tyrolean Landsturm


Andreas Hofer leading Tyrolean rebels - the red bearded priest is meant to represent Halspinger... whose favorite tactic was using man made avalanches of boulders rumbling down on French, Wurttemburg, and Bavarian troops moving along the mountain roads!


The Speckbacher Denkmal (Memorial), in Hall, Tyrol.

18 comments:

  1. This is certainly something different for the Napoleonic era Peter, and a subject I have only ever heard mentioned in passing. It really is quit fascinating when you look into it a bit more, as I have just done.

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    1. That it is, Lawrence. Gill has a fairly extensive discussion of the fighting in the Tyrol in his "With Eagles to Glory".

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  2. Looking good, Peter! Glad to see that the "grant" was put to good use. The evocative images in Innsbruck panorama had me imagining many different low-level scraps over the mountains and valleys around Innsbruck. A bonus is that Bavarians (with one of my favorite uniforms) can be fielded as opposition to the rebels.

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    1. They have a ways to go, but I will probably start breaking them down into smaller groups now. At least one "wagon train" type scenario is under consideration!

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  3. Interesting irregular Napoleonic force thatst not Spanish! Sounds like fun!
    Best Iain

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    1. TH Tyroleans had been restive ever since the transfer of their territory from Austria to Bavaria in 1806, but I am sure the example of the the Spanish Guerrillas inspired them as well. They had limited support from Austrian regulars until the armistice at Znaim in late July, 1809. Without that the support, the rebellion was eventually quashed by overwhelming French and CoR forces.. but even then, it wasn't easy!

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  4. Very nice, I always want to paint these. I will look forward to seeing them on the table.

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    1. Each unit will get its own appearance here as it is completed, and then hopefully some test games this winter.

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    1. It is hard to tell from the not so great pictures and 1/2 done paint jobs, but they are very well sculpted.

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  6. Very impressive project going on, Peter. BTW, my buddy James ran a large Black Powder Alps Aflame! Saxon Trap game this past May at our local convention (Enfilade!). A picture w/caption is at this link (about midway down) http://wabcorner.blogspot.com/2018/05/an-actual-gaming-post-at-long-last-live.html#comment-form

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    1. Thanks, Dean; his game layout looks great. Any pictures of James' Tyroleans?

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    2. Sorry for the late reply, Peter, but I wasn't able to get close ups of the game. There may be some pics other people took which might be posted on the NHMGS facebook. I can send you the link to the group if you want.

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    3. No worries, Dean, and yes, I'd be interested. I have pretty much worked out how I am painting them, but additional inspiration is always welcome. I hope to have the first unit (of 16!) posted this weekend.

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  7. Patiently waiting for these scenarios Peter since we both ran Klagenfurt. Looking forward to your finished Tyrollean paintwork. Go Hofer!

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    1. Paint first, scenarios second! :-)

      I doubt I will be able to rival your own excellent research and background information, though, Michael!

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    2. Peter, Thank you but I still think you have a better narrative :-) Meanwhile I would start looking for some Tyrollean sausages to cook, or local cheese, to tempt the Bavarian miniatures into foolhardy action. Hofer will need all the help to forestall the Bavarian scenario players.

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    3. With Hofer being an innkeeper by trade, I think the Tyrolean strategy would be to declare a premature Oktoberfest, with free beer for the loyal Bavarian soldiery. "Ein Prosit, ein Prosit..."
      Ein Zwei, Drei.. Kerpluffa! :-)

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